Residential segregation, health behavior and overweight/obesity among a national sample of African American adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Corral ◽  
Hope Landrine ◽  
Yongping Hao ◽  
Luhua Zhao ◽  
Jenelle L. Mellerson ◽  
...  
Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharrelle Barber ◽  
Kiarri Kershaw ◽  
Xu Wang ◽  
Mario Sims ◽  
Julianne Nelson ◽  
...  

Introduction: Racial residential segregation results in increased exposure to adverse neighborhood environments for African Americans; however, the impact of segregation on ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) has not been examined in large, socioeconomically diverse African American samples. Using a novel spatial measure of neighborhood-level racial residential segregation, we examined the association between segregation and ideal CVH in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS). Hypothesis: Racial residential segregation will be associated with worse cardiovascular health among African American adults. Methods: The sample included 4,354 men and women ages 21-93 from the baseline exam of the JHS (2000-2004). Racial residential segregation was assessed at the census-tract level. Data on racial composition (% African American) from the 2000 US Census was used to calculate the local G i * statistic- a spatially-weighted z-score that represents how much a neighborhood’s racial/ethnic composition deviates from the larger metropolitan area. Ideal CVH was assessed using the AHA Life’s Simple Seven (LS7) index which includes 3 behavioral (nutrition, physical activity, and smoking) and 4 biological (systolic BP, glucose, BMI, and cholesterol) metrics of CVH. Multivariable regression models were used to test associations between segregation and the LS7 index continuously (range: 0-14) and categorically (Inadequate: 0-4; Average: 5-9; and Optimal: 10-14). Covariates included age, sex, income, education, and insurance status. Results: The average LS7 summary score was 7.03 (±2.1) and was lowest in the most racially segregated neighborhood environments (High Segregation: 6.88 ±2.1 vs. Low Segregation: 7.55 ±2.1). The prevalence of inadequate CVH was higher in racially segregated neighborhoods (12.3%) compared to neighborhoods that were the least segregated (6.9%). After adjusting for key socio-demographic characteristics, racial residential segregation was inversely associated with ideal CVH (B=-0.041 ±0.02, p=0.0146). Moreover, a 1-SD unit increase in segregation was associated with a 6% increased odds of having inadequate CVH (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00-1.12, p=0.0461). Conclusion: In conclusion, African Americans in racially segregated neighborhoods are less likely to achieve ideal CVH even after accounting for individual-level factors. Policies aimed at restricting housing segregation/discrimination and/or structural interventions designed to improve neighborhood environments may be viable strategies to improving CVH in this at-risk population.


Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Hamid Helmi ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan

Background: Despite the association between polypharmacy and undesired health outcomes being well established, very little is known about epidemiology of polypharmacy in the African American community. We are not aware of any nationally representative studies that have described the socioeconomic, behavioral, and health determinants of polypharmacy among African Americans. Aims: We aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and health correlates of polypharmacy in a national sample of African American adults in the US. Methods: The National Survey of American Life (NSAL, 2003–2004) included 3,570 African American adults. Gender, age, socioeconomic status (SES; education attainment, poverty index, and marital status), access to the healthcare system (health insurance and having a usual source of care), and health (self-rated health [SRH], chronic medical disease, and psychiatric disorders) in addition to polypharmacy (5 + medications) as well as hyper-polypharmacy (10 + medications) were measured. Logistic regressions were applied for statistical analysis. Results: that About 9% and 1% of all African American adults had polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy, respectively. Overall, higher age, higher SES (education and poverty index), and worse health (poor SRH, more chronic medical disease, and psychiatric disorders) were associated with polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy. Individuals with insurance and those with a routine place for healthcare also had higher odds of polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy. Conclusions: Given the health risks associated with polypharmacy, there is a need for systemic evaluation of medication use in older African Americans with multiple chronic conditions. Such policies may prevent medication errors and harmful drug interactions, however, they require effective strategies that are tailored to African Americans.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irma Corral ◽  
Hope Landrine ◽  
Marla B. Hall ◽  
Jukelia J. Bess ◽  
Kevin R. Mills ◽  
...  

Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan

Background: Compared to Whites, African Americans are at a higher risk of multiple chronic conditions, which places them at a higher risk of polypharmacy. Few national studies, however, have tested whether polypharmacy is associated with psychological distress—the net of socioeconomic status, health status, and stress—in African Americans. Aims: In a national sample of African Americans in the US, this study investigated the association between polypharmacy and psychological distress. Methods: The National Survey of American Life (NSAL, 2003) included 3570 African American adults who were 18 years or over. This number was composed of 2299 women and 1271 men. Polypharmacy (using ≥ 5 medications) and hyper-polypharmacy (using ≥ 10 medications) were the independent variables. Psychological distress was the dependent variable. Age, gender, socioeconomic status (education attainment, income, employment, and marital status), health care access (insurance status and usual place of care), and health status (multimorbidity and psychiatric disorders) were the covariates. Linear multivariable regression was applied to perform the data analysis. Results: Both polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy were associated with psychological distress. This association was significant after controlling for all the covariates. Conclusions: African Americans with polypharmacy, particularly those with hyper-polypharmacy, are experiencing higher levels of psychological distress, which itself is a known risk factor for poor adherence to medications. There is a need for a comprehensive evaluation of medications as well as screening for psychopathology in African Americans with multiple medical conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 493-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lillian J. Findlay ◽  
Peggy El-Mallakh ◽  
Patricia B. Howard ◽  
Jennifer Hatcher ◽  
James J. Clark

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 549-558
Author(s):  
Tracy J. Yang ◽  
Lisa A. Cooper ◽  
L. Ebony Boulware ◽  
Rachel L. J. Thornton

Purpose: Few family-oriented cardiovas­cular risk reduction interventions exist that leverage the home environment to produce health behavior change among multiple family members. We identified opportu­nities to adapt disease self-management interventions included in a blood pressure control comparative effectiveness trial for hypertensive African American adults to ad­dress family-level factors.Methods: We conducted and analyzed semi-structured interviews with five inter­vention study staff (all study intervention­ists and the study coordinator) between December 2016 and January 2017 and with 11 study participants between Septem­ber and November 2015.1 All study staff involved with intervention delivery and co­ordination were interviewed. We sampled adult participants from the parent study, and we analyzed interviews that were originally obtained as part of a previous study based on their status as a caregiver of an adoles­cent family member.1Results: Thematic analysis identified family influences on disease management and the importance of relationships between index patients and family members, between in­dex patients and study peers, and between index patients and study staff through study participation to understand social effects on healthy behaviors. We identified four themes: 1) the role of family in health behavior change; 2) the impact of family dynamics on health behaviors; 3) building peer relationships through intervention par­ticipation; and 4) study staff role conflict.Conclusions: These findings inform development of family-oriented interven­tions to improve health behaviors among African American index patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease and their family members.Ethn Dis. 2019;29(4):549-558; doi:10.18865/ed.29.4.549


2015 ◽  
Vol 66-67 ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Vaughn ◽  
Christopher P. Salas-Wright ◽  
Norman A. White ◽  
Kristen P. Kremer

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (Fall) ◽  
pp. 238-254
Author(s):  
Alaina S. Davis ◽  
Wilhelmina Wright-Harp ◽  
Jay Lucker ◽  
Joan Payne ◽  
Alfonso Campbell

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-116
Author(s):  
Valarie B. Fleming ◽  
Joyce L. Harris

Across the breadth of acquired neurogenic communication disorders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may go undetected, underreported, and untreated. In addition to stigma and distrust of healthcare systems, other barriers contribute to decreased identification, healthcare access, and service utilization for Hispanic and African American adults with MCI. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have significant roles in prevention, education, management, and support of older adults, the population must susceptible to MCI.


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